The Phoenix Guards (And/Or Brust in General)

[Cheomesh]

Finished all the official Conan tales written by Howard, so I wanted to get myself some more sword-swinging action.  Being in a swash-buckly mood, I picked up The Phoenix Guards, being as someone (the author) told me it was a rip off of The Three Musketeers.

Only a few chapters in (reality and what-not) but I plan to read it through.  So far I've got a mix reaction to it.  I like the purple prose, very evocitive of some of the English translations I've seen of the original Dumas novel (always wondered if it was as flowery in French, though).  Some of the details bug me, little things like absurd weights, time lengths and methods of weapon-carry, but that's nothing that anyone other than I would get ruffled over.  Unfortunately I've not read any of his earlier stuff, so the significance of the Houses, battles et cetra is lost on me.  I also find it strange that the Imperials live so long - centuries - though I can't explain why this is jarring.

In any case who's read these tales and what's everyone's thoughts on them?

M.

[Kindling]

I've heard good things about this series, it sounds very fun. I've never actually read anything by Brust, though. One day...

[LordVreeg]

Read a lot of his stuff, and this was more of an attempt to stretch and hit a different tone after his highy succesful 'Taltos' stuff, which was written in a much more humorous, colloquial tone.  Excellent reading if you want to see a variation of how a crime organization works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhereg_(novel)

read this, as it describes a very fun, intersting world as well as a good read.